Scarsdale Students Honored by State Senator Shelley Mayer
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Five Scarsdale students were honored by State Senator Shelley Mayer on June 13, 2024. They were among 30 in the 37th Senate District who received 2024 Citizenship Awards and 13 students who received Youth Leadership Awards at Blind Brook High School. Pictured above are Julia Fenigstein, Christina Semple, [Senator Shelley Mayer], Carolyn Chen, and Justin Zhang.
Senator Mayer’s Citizenship Award recognizes students who have made exemplary contributions through community service, extracurricular activities or daily actions to serve their schools or community. The NYS Senate Youth Leadership Award recognizes outstanding high school students for excellence in the classroom, athletics, and in extracurricular or community activities.
Senator Mayer led a roundtable discussion with the student recipients to showcase their activities and to learn more about each student’s work for their communities. The students were able to discuss the initiatives they pursued and the ideas they have. Senator Mayer then presented the students with certificates of achievement for their outstanding involvement in the community.
Senator Shelley B. Mayer said, “I am delighted to present the 2024 Citizenship Awards and Youth Leadership Awards to these remarkable students in my district. They have all done excellent work in the community, investing much of their time and energy into making Westchester a better place for us all. As Chair of the Senate Education Committee, I am inspired by their work and I appreciated learning their stories and hearing about their plans for the future. I would like to thank Principal Dr. Jennifer Chirles and Blind Brook High School for hosting this ceremony.”
Students from Blind Brook High School, Byram Hills High School, Rye Neck High School, Scarsdale High School and White Plains High School were recognized with the Youth Leadership Award.
Students from Bronxville High School, Blind Brook High School, Charles E. Gorton High School, Eastchester High School, Fox Lane High School, Harrison High School, Mamaroneck High School, New Rochelle High School, Port Chester High School, Rochambeau Alternative High School, Roosevelt High School, Rye High School, Rye Neck High School, Scarsdale High School, Tuckahoe High School, and White Plains High School were recognized with the Citizenship Award.
Julia Fenigstein shared details of her “Scarsdale Healthy Yards” initiative which has helped the environment by decreasing the use of pesticides, herbicides and insecticides in our community.
The program has two parts:
First, she designed a sign which residents can put in their lawn to indicate that they have a “healthy yard.” A healthy yard is one where no pesticides, insecticides or herbicides are used. By having something indicating that a yard is healthy, Julia is hoping to inspire more people in the community to do the same. Once people see a beautiful, chemical-free lawn, it will be proof that toxic pesticides are not needed.
The second part of her program is that her sign has a QR code which links to a Scarsdale Healthy Yards website which she created, which gives advice and tips about how to create and maintain a healthy yard.
Julia is hoping to see more healthy yard signs and less of the small yellow signs posted on people’s yards which indicate pesticides having been applied! Here’s the link to her Scarsdale Healthy Yards website and where residents can request a free Scarsdale Healthy Yards sign: https://juliafenigstein.wixsite.com/healthy-yards-scarsd.
Each student was nominated by a teacher or school administrator.
A Dedication In Hartsdale for a Woman Killed by an Impaired Driver
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Friends and colleagues gathered on Tuesday June 11, 2024 for a ceremony to dedicate the Site A Parking Garage in Hartsdale to Stephanie Kavourias, the former Executive Director of the Hartsdale Public Parking District who was killed by an impaired driver on East Hartsdale on August 26, 2023.
A friend to all, Kavourias was walking on East Hartsdale Avenue when the driver jumped the curb, hit her and then fled the scene. Police later arrested Antonio Robles Sanchez who was found to be impaired by drugs and driving while intoxicated.
Paul Feiner called Kavourias “the unofficial Mayor of East Hartsdale Avenue,” and said that “it was best to remember how Stephanie lived rather than how she died.” William Sicari called her a “friend and a dedicated public servant who managed and guided the Hartsdale Public Parking District for over 20 years.”
Her sister Debbie Kouvarias said, “Most importantly she was our sister, aunt, neighbor and friend.”
The ceremony ended with the unveiling of plaque commemorating Kouvarias that will stand next to the parking garage.
Scarsdale Library Hosts Generation S.O.S. to Address Teen Mental Health and Substance Misuse
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Maya Rabinovich and SerenaOn Tuesday June 4, 2024, the Scarsdale Library welcomed Generation S.O.S., a nonprofit organization whose goal is to raise awareness of mental health and substance misuse issues. The uniqueness of Generation S.O.S. is that their speakers share stories about mental health struggles, social pressures, and substance use with peers. They do so without stigma or shame and teach things such as coping skills, how to help a friend in trouble, and to get help if they’re struggling. 
Robin Aviv Founder Generation SOS, Jim Hood CEO Generation SOS, Speaker Serena and Maya Rabinovich.Maya Rabinovich, a sophomore at Scarsdale High School, organized the event to raise awareness for this very important issue that teens often struggle to navigate. Unfortunately, teens encounter substance misuse and other mental health issues more today than ever before. Addiction/overdose is the leading cause of death for people under 30. Hearing from a young adult who survived addiction and shared her uplifting story, including the coping skills she has learned to navigate life safely, was empowering for everyone in the room to hear. “It was so refreshing to hear someone talk honestly about their experience. I liked that she didn’t preach abstinence and instead talked about red flags to look out for,” said Grace Henry, a sophomore at Scarsdale High School, who was in attendance.
The event was well populated by middle school and high school students and their parents, and even included Generation S.O.S.’s founder and CEO.
After the speaker told her story, the group engaged in a lively discussion. The feedback from both the teens and parents was overwhelmingly positive. Dr Rachel Kowalsky, an attendee, shared that, “Substance use disorder and drug overdose are important topics to me, both as a mom of teenagers and a pediatric E.R. physician. Generation S.O.S. has a great approach because they support open, honest conversations about substance use between teens and volunteers who are young and relatable. I’m so glad Maya was able to bring this event to our community. It will make a significant impact.”
Generation S.O.S. looks forward to holding additional events in the near future for teens and parents in Scarsdale and other Westchester communities.
For more information, please go to www.GenerationSOS.org.
The Future of Scarsdale10583 Is Up To You
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(Written by Joanne Wallenstein, Publisher of Scarsdale10583.com)
Since the abrupt demise of the Scarsdale Inquirer in January, many of you have stopped me on the street to say, “How does it feel to be the only game in town?” or better, “Thanks so much for giving us the news! I don’t know what we would do without you!” That’s nice to hear. And after 15 years of publication – without missing a week- it’s good to feel appreciated.
In response to your questions, I wanted to let you all know how it is going and where, with your help, we hope to go from here.
It’s been a journey -- and over the years we have developed into a full -scale operation that starts with the people behind the site. We have a terrific band of contributors including an ace police reporter, a former teacher who is covering the schools with sensitivity and insight, an assistant who posts our real estate column, a designer who handles our graphics and great input from our readers who send letters, opinions, and news of their events.
How do we do it? In order to cover the business of the town, we spend countless nights in Village Hall and at the Board of Education so that you don’t have to. In fact, we’ve sat in these chairs longer than many trustees and Board members who have term limits. We don’t.
And it’s not always pleasant. We got into the weeds on some thorny issues including a community wide debate over the renovation of the Greenacres School, a payroll tax error that ultimately brought down our school superintendent – and lately, some hard-fought fights over historic preservation, land use and flooding. We like to think that our coverage contributed to the establishment of the building moratorium and a re-thinking of our building code.
On the business side we formed an LLC, carry professional insurance, sell advertising, provide tax forms to our contributors, and pay for technology, software, and a tech consultant. We pay legal fees incurred when defending the site in some pretty frightening lawsuits. So far at least, we’re making it work. To disabuse anyone who is under the impression that this is a vanity enterprise, the site requires hours of work from a dedicated team.
Despite our best efforts to cover everything Scarsdale, we’ve heard that some are still nostalgic about the idea of flipping through a local paper instead of getting their news in digital form. However, the data shows that local print papers are quickly becoming a thing of the past…. like pay phones, vinyl records, walkmen and VCR’s. In 2023, sadly 130 print papers folded or merged, that’s 2.5 each week, and since 2005 2,900 local papers have gone under.
Why are newspapers becoming dinosaurs? Many factors have contributed to their demise. As you know, by the time the paper arrives, the news is already a week old and has been read online, digested, and forgotten. Local advertising dollars have shrunk with businesses targeting their buys online and on social media. The cost of paper, printing, postage and distribution no longer makes sense in an era when you can get your news online for free. Papers quickly move from the mailbox to the recycling bin and investors shy away from businesses with no future.
At the same time digital news sites are growing and thriving. The New York Times has seen astronomic growth of their digital subscriptions at a time that their list of paper subscribers if shrinking. Read this story of one local site that just won a Pulitzer Prize.
So, what’s my message to you? You have a viable local news site that faithfully delivers the news of the day. Scarsdale10583’s readership numbers are great. The open rate to our weekly email is 70% and we hope you’ll continue to read it and enjoy it. You can help to keep the site strong by sending us your letters, opinions, wedding and birth announcements and to ask friends to subscribe to get our weekly e-blast. If you have ideas on how to make the site better, please email us at [email protected] or share your thoughts in the comments section below.
If you have a service or a business, we ask you to consider advertising to help fund the site so that we can pay our bills. If you’re supporting a cause or a candidate, take an ad to promote them. If you’re running or sponsoring a local event, pay to have it listed on our calendar or advertise it with a banner ad. It’s graduation season and we will be covering moving up ceremonies, prom, and end of year events. You’re invited to salute the graduates in your lives with tribute banners on the site.
And we’ll soon be asking for voluntary subscription payments (not a pay wall) so if you like Scarsdale10583 you’ll be able to show it with a contribution too.
In short, it’s an honor and a responsibility to report to such an educated and discerning group of readers. We’re proud that we have earned your trust and thank you for your loyalty. Please continue to read and embrace Scarsdale10583.com so that we can remain Scarsdale’s #1 news source and shine the light on the town you love.
All the Best for Mother's Day
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Scarsdale is in bloom and Mother’s Day is coming on Sunday May 12. You don’t have to go far to find the perfect gift for all the women in your life – moms, grandmothers, aunts and all the women you care about and care for you!
We asked local merchants for their recommendations for gifts – and are so pleased to show you these beautiful gift options. Shop local and support our local retail community!
Scarsdale Flower Boutique
This Mother’s Day send a stunning bouquet from Scarsdale Flower Boutique.
Choose from roses in red, pink, lavender, white and peach or send a custom Valentine’s Day arrangement with premium flowers like orchids, ranunculus, hydrangeas and anemones.
Ask about spring bouquets of peonies, lilacs, ranunculus, anemones, roses, tulips, astrantia, orchids and many more premium flowers.
Bouquets start at $50.00 with same day delivery. Call 914-723-0852, order online or stop by the shop at 7 Harwood Court in the heart of Scarsdale Village.
Open daily from 9 am to 6 pm and on Mother’s Day -- Sunday May 12, 2024.
Eye Gallery of Scarsdale
The Eye Gallery of Scarsdale invites you to their stunning new store on Boniface Circle to check out the latest sunglasses and eyewear for spring. With new styles from Celine, Chanel, Chrome Hearts, Jacques Marie Mage, and Barton Perriera you will never run out of options for gifts this year! And while you’re in town make sure to make an appointment for your annual eye check-up.
About Dior: The storied House of Dior traces its roots to 1947, when Christian Dior debuted his first collection to world acclaim. Dubbed the New Look, it established a ravishing new aesthetic that continues to influence fashion today. In September 2016, Maria Grazia Chiuri, Dior's first female Artistic Director, presented her debut collection and has kept the respected French house at the forefront of fashion with exceptional tailoring and forward-thinking designs.
Barton Pereira : Our limited-edition Aldrin frame is a testament to a vision realized after years of design and craftsmanship culminating in a product that seamlessly combines technical innovation with high-fashion sensibility. Drawing inspiration from the sleek lines of 1960s modernist furniture, the Aldrin seamlessly integrates metal within layers of laminated acetate, evoking a sense of timeless elegance. This painstakingly crafted piece showcases our commitment to perfection, from the precise placement of metal accents to the final, ultra-smooth Barton Pereira finish.
Eye Gallery of Scarsdale, 15 Boniface Circle, Scarsdale, (914) 472-2020
Pamela Robbins
The iconic store is where luxury and lifestyle come together for women of all ages seeking anything from tee-shirts and jeans to an outfit for a special event. Loyal customers and newcomers alike are drawn to Pamela Robbins for Pam’s incredible sense of style and her team of stylists.
Pamela Robbins has the perfect gift ideas to help celebrate Mom.
Show your love with a fun summer tote by Isabel Marant, slouchy banana bag from The Row, in leather or suede, a clutch from Victoria Beckham or a fun raffia tote by Marni. Other fun gift ideas include bracelets by Jennifer Fisher or an assortment of great fine jewelry by Robin Gibson. Let us help you pick out something special.
Pamela Robbins, 5 Boniface Circle, Scarsdale. (914) 472-4033.
ScentFluence
Enhance your mom's sense of calm or energy, with luxurious home scents this Mother's Day. MentionScarsdale10583 to enjoy 15% off (through May 10) on our diffusers and library collection scents (excludes signature hotel and spa collection scents and products). FREE gift wrapping!
ScentFluence, 22 Harwood Court, Scarsdale Village, Mon-Fri 12-5
Bronx River Books
Maybe Mom would like a book or a puzzle! On Mother's Day weekend, May 11 and 12, all adult hardcover books and all jigsaw puzzles are 10% off. There are 17,000 books and 300 puzzles to choose from. Can't decide? Give Mom a Bronx River Books gift card and let her choose for herself.
37 Spencer Place, Scarsdale, 914-420-6396
www.bronxriverbooks.com
Open every day from 10 am to 6 pm.
I Am More Scarsdale
Celebrate the heart of the family with a touch of elegance and comfort and receive 20% off most regular-priced clothing and select accessories. From chic floral dresses to cozy knits and casual wear, our collection offers the perfect blend of style for the amazing moms who do it all. Accessorize with our range of belts, bags
, and jewelry for a polished look, or keep it relaxed with a trendy hat and comfortable sneakers. Because every mom deserves to feel special and stylish, every day. Shop for these gifts and more fashionable items she’ll love.
I Am More Scarsdale, 6 Spencer Place, Scarsdale, (914) 723-6673, @iammore.scarsdale, Monday-Saturday 11am-5pm, Sundays 11am-4pm (and by appointment)
La Casa Bronxville
La Casa Bronxville is the perfect spot to celebrate and spoil mom on Mother’s Day. They’ll be serving their elevated Mexican Sunday brunch (from 11.30am-4pm) and Sunday dinner (4pm-9pm) menus and both are filled with dishes that Moms love!
Begin your celebration by sharing an order of the freshest, most delicious guacamole, tortilla chips and three salsas with a just-shaken selection from La Casa’s Margarita menu - classic, spicy, skinny, frozen, tamarind, hibiscus, Mezcal…to name just a few…all equally delicious with fresh fruit juices and syrups all made in-house!
For shared appetizers or entrees, Moms favorites are Tartar de Atun (made with 4 ounces of sushi grade bluefin 
tuna), and Ensalada de Entrada (served with delicious add-on choices such as grilled steak, chicken and shrimp). Other mom favorites include Crab Tostada and Salmon a La Plancha. As always, the dishes at La Casa are made from scratch - including their tortillas, chips and sublime salsas - and you can taste the difference!
For dessert Brulée de Piña Asada, Churros with Chocolate Sauce (perfect for sharing) and Tres Leches Cake are all winners. You’ll leave full and happy…the ambience at La Casa is always festive and feels like a celebration.
Casa Bronxville, 7 Pondfield Road, Bronxville, NY 914-222-9016 Details here
